Cognitive appraisal of dissertation stress among undergraduate students

The present study examined changes in primary and secondary appraisal, and coping strategies utilized in the final weeks leading to dissertation submission. Sixty volunteer Sports Studies dissertation students (male: n = 29; female: n = 31) completed an adapted Cognitive Appraisal of Health Scale (CAHS: Kessler, 1998), and Brief COPE (Carver, Scheier, & Weintraub, 1989) on 4 occasions over the 6 weeks before dissertation submission. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance indicated a significant main effect for gender, with no main effect for changes over time and no significant interaction effect. Results demonstrated that males perceived the dissertation to be significantly more threatening and iess challenging than females. With regard to coping, males used more active coping, positive reframing, planning, and acceptance of the stressor, with lower scores for self-blame, venting of emotions, and behavioral disengagement. The results suggest that, for this student population, the dissertation did not become increasingly stressful in the period before submission. Clear relationships were also evidenced between primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, and coping. Future research should seek to identify factors that moderate the influence of situational stressors on coping responses among undergraduate students

Oligomeric tetrathiafulvalenes in supramolecular chemistry

A range of highly ordered dendritic and oligomeric macromolecules, functionalised with tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives as a redox-active sub-unit were assembled. In particular, the first dendritic macromolecules incorporating TTF were constructed by the reaction of poly-acid chlorides and alcohol functionalities. Electrochemical techniques showed the novel redox-superstructures to be efficient π-electron donors that are able to undergo two reversible, multi-electron-on oxidations. The TTF-units were established to be acting independently, and the extent to which the redox groups could be oxidised was evaluated. UV studies demonstrated the redox- assemblies to be capable of forming charge-transfer complexes m solution and showed potential for the formation of conducting charge-transfer complexes. Preliminary studies showed the precursors to these compounds to be suitable for use as electrochemical detectors for dopamine. Structural variation of the core units increased the air and thermal stability of the dendritic materials, whilst retaining the characteristics of the multi-redox system. These systems formed stable aggregates of the radical cation and afforded conducting charge- transfer complexes with TCNQ. The new precursors to multi-TTF systems were then used in attempts to impart redox characteristics on [2]pseudorotaxanes and rotaxanes. Preliminary attempts were made to assemble multi-TTF systems using a TTF derivative as a core and at the periphery

Walking on Thin Ice: Exploring Demands and Means of Coping During an Extreme Expedition

The present exploratory study was undertaken with two experienced explorers in order to examine daily events, perceived demands, coping strategies, and mood during a unique 636–675 km ‘‘double solo’’ crossing of Lake Baikal, a frozen lake in Siberia. A 59-year-old female explorer and a 49-year-old male explorer completed a daily survey and written diary during the expedition to collect situational data. Two semi-structured interviews were also completed, one within 24 hours and a second within four months of their return. These interviews sought to identify demands and coping efforts perceived as being most pertinent during their expedition. Guided by the work of Skinner et al. (2003), families of coping were organized around three human concerns (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) and two targets of coping (self or context). Findings illustrate two very different expedition experiences as evidenced by demands faced and coping strategies utilized, which influenced perceptions of workload and emotions experienced. Each explorer brought idiosyncrasies, which, when combined with different expedition experiences, bore influence on coping behaviors (focused on the self or context) and outcomes relative to the concerns of autonomy, relatedness, and competency. In discussing the findings, recommendations are offered for those preparing to undertake expeditions in extreme environments

Stress and Coping Experiences of UK Professional Football Managers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Guided by transactional stress theory, this study aimed to explore elite U.K. soccer coaches’ perceived stressors, the situational properties, appraisals, and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study also aimed to explore any variation in stress experiences across football league standards A total of 13 professional first-team male U.K. association football coaches between 38 and 59 years of age (M = 43.00, SD = 6.94) participated in telephone (n = 5) or online (n = 8) semistructured interviews. Informed by the philosophical position of critical realism, Braun et al.’s six-phase approach to thematic analysis was used to generate competitive, organizational, and personal stressor themes. Deductive thematic analysis generated themes reflective of all situational properties of stressors identified by Lazarus and Folkman and an array of appraisal and coping strategies. Future research and recommendations for supporting coach performance and well-being post-COVID-19 pandemic are offered.<br/

Beyond the technical: The role of emotion regulation in lacrosse officiating.

Emotions can influence the performance of referees leading to a need to examine emotions experienced, and regulation strategies used by referees. The present study assessed emotions and emotion regulation strategies of 19 referees officiating at an Under-19 Lacrosse World Championship. Using survey methods and focus group interviews, officials responded to five questions: (a) What emotions were experienced? (b) What events elicited emotions? (c) How did lacrosse officials manage their own emotional states prior to, throughout, and following a competitive game? (d) How did officials manage others' emotional states? (e) What were the perceived consequences of these strategies? Results indicate that emotions fluctuated throughout the tournament as referees encountered intrapersonal and interpersonal emotion-eliciting events. These fluctuations are suggested to come from a progressively diminished capacity for emotion regulation. Participants used emotion regulation strategies that could be classified into Gross' (1999) families of emotion regulation strategies, often relying on suppression, emotion contagion, and preventative refereeing. Collectively, the results offer new insights into referee emotion regulation at international events

Understanding Perceptions of Human Resource Competencies and Effectiveness in the New Zealand and Australian Hotel Industry

Traditionally, human resource management (HRM) was focused on personnel management through policies and practices (Ulrich, Brockbank, Johnson, Sandholtz, & Younger, 2008) and was seen as a highly administrative function. However, in today’s competitive global business market, there has been increasing interest and importance placed on how HRM contributes to organisational performance and delivering business results (Boselie & Paauwe, 2005; & Ulrich et al., 2008). The hotel industry is becoming of increasing value to both the New Zealand and the Australian economy. Effectiveness of the Human Resource (HR) function is particularly important in the hospitality industry as service industries place much importance on employees as the main source of competitive advantage (Browning, Edgar, Gray, & Garrett, 2009). The hotel industry is characterised as highly labour-intensive, with high turnover, therefore effective HRM plays a vital role in this sector (Davidson, McPhail, & Barry, 2011; Lockyer, 2007; Lucas & Deery, 2004). For these reasons, the hospitality industry is theoretically and practically interesting and valuable in providing insight into the perceptions of HR competencies and effectiveness. One way that HRM integrates people management and business strategy, connecting people with business, is through HR business partner and competency models (Losey, 1999; Ulrich, 1997; Ulrich & Brockbank, 2005; Ulrich, Brockbank, Yeung & Lake 1995). Over the past decade, these models have become increasing prevalent and popular (Burgoyne, 1993; Yeung, Woolcock, & Sullivan, 1996). The critical dimensions of these models is the competencies required of HR professionals who work and run the function (Ulrich et al., 2008). In this regard, six well-established HR competencies have been identified by Ulrich et al. (2008), which are: credible activist, operational executor, business ally, talent manager/organisation designer, culture and change steward and strategy architect. The competency model proposes that these principal competencies are predictors of HR effectiveness. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), correlations coefficient and multiple regression analysis were performed to test the research hypotheses. An online questionnaire was used to conduct the research study. Data were collected from 103 participants that were hotel industry employees working in hotels across New Zealand and Australia. Participants held a range of job functions and worked across a variety of departments. The results of this study showed that the HR competencies that were the strongest predictors of HR effectiveness were a combination of Credible Activist and Talent Manager/Organisation Designer competencies as well Operational Executor and Talent Manager/Organisation Designer. The study examines two critical lines of inquiry, being, how employees perceive the six HR competencies in the HR function and, secondly, how these perceptions impact on effectiveness. Therefore, the study contributes to the body of knowledge on HR competencies and HR effectiveness. The study also contributes to a gap in current literature about HR competencies and HR effectiveness in the New Zealand and Australian hotel industry context. Theoretically, the empirical findings of the study contribute to the ongoing discussion regarding the validity of HR competency and the business partner models. Practically, the findings indicate which competencies are perceived to be the best predictors of HR effectiveness that provides guidance for HR professionals in the hotel industry across New Zealand and Australia